Kogi 2015: Group mobilize 20,000 volunteers for Senator Ugbane

Ahead of the November 21 gubernatorial election in Kogi State, a pressure group within the All Progressives Congress, Volunteer Network (AVN), said it has mobilised over 20, 0000 volunteers to canvas for the emergence of Senator Nicholas Ugbane as the party’s flag-bearer, and victory at the poll.

The state coordinator, Mr. Tony Akeje and the Secretary, Babtunde Oyejide,  in a statement issued in Lokoja and made available to journalists, said if voted as governor, the Ugbane will among other things transform the state into an agrarian success, considering its huge agricultural potentials.

They said they were in Lokoja to mobilise the youths and the market men and women, to support Ugbane’s aspiration.

“Senator Ugbane was a two-time commissioner for education and served in different other ministries in the state. He is reputed the brains behind several notable achievements recorded in Kogi, and if elected as governor, he will do more.”

The advised voters to get it right this time around by rejecting money politics, as well as the do-or-die attitude of some of the politicians

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Kidnappers kill two policemen, abduct 80-yr-old woman in Bayelsa

A team of policemen yesterday foiled an attempt by a gang of kidnappers to abduct the Chairman of Southern Ijaw Local Government Area, Mr. Remember Ogbeh.

But two of the policemen, identified by their ranks as corporal, were killed by the rampaging gunmen.

The operatives, attached to the chairman, were said to have spotted the gunmen around the residence of the council boss in Amasomma, Southern Ijaw,, at about 8pm on Thursday.

The gunmen were said to have opened fire on the security team after sighting them.

A source, who spoke in confidence, said: “The bandits had sophisticated guns. They were shooting indiscriminately, especially after their sporadic gunshots were replied by the police. They kept shooting at the building.

“But the policemen withstood them. They showed some gallantry. However, two of the policemen were not lucky enough. They were hit by bullets and they died. The gunmen escaped without fulfilling their sinister mission of abducting the chairman.”

The gunmen were said to have escaped into the creeks with the riffles of the slain policemen.

The incident, it was gathered, threw the area into confusion and sent people scampering to safety.

It was, however, gathered that a special squad of the police carried out preliminary investigations on the fleeing gunmen and later arrested an alleged mastermind of the incident, identified as 24-year-old Seigha Oduwaiye.

Oduwaiye, who hails from Akassa in Brass Local Government Area, was said to have made useful statements to the police.

The Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), Mr. Butswat Asinim, said the men of the anti-kidnapping unit of the police have intensified efforts to arrest Oduwaiye’s fleeing gang members.

He said: “On the 30 July, 2015, at about 8pm four dare-devil gunmen stormed the residence of the  of Southern Ijaw LGA, Hon Remember Ogbe, at Amassoma in Southern Ijaw LGA to abduct him, but were engaged in a gun battle with the policemen attached to the chairman.

“The unknown gunmen retreated, but the two police orcporals lost their lives due to injuries sustained in the encounter. The corpses of the deceased policemen were deposited at the Federal Medical Centre, Mortuary, Yenagoa, for autopsy.”

In a related development, a gang of kidnappers was said to have attacked the residence of one Mrs. Tonye Aroh in Opume community in Ogbia, and abducted her.

The 80-year-old Aroh was said to have been kidnapped at about 8pm, same time the other gang of gunmen killed the policemen.

The bandits were said to have unsettled the community with sporadic shooting before whisking the octogenarian away in a speedboat.

Confirming the incident, the Chairman of the Ijaw Youth Council (IYC), Ogbia Clan, Mr. Osanya B. Osanya, condemned the abduction and urged the kidnappers to release the old woman without delay.

“The Ijaw Youth Council (IYC), Ogbia clan will partner with the security agencies to make sure the woman is released safely. We advise the youths in the clan to conduct themselves properly and engage in legal activities,” he said.

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Extra-judicial Killing: Group petitions Army

A group, the African Network for Environment and Economic Justice (ANEEJ) has petitioned the Chief of Defence Staff, Defence Headquarters and the Chief of Army Staff, urging them to investigate the activities of the officers and men of the 19 Battalion of the Nigerian Army, Koko, Delta State over alleged extra judicial killing of one Mr. Benson Ogedegbe.

This is contained in a petition signed by Festus Ukpe, ESQ and John Ainetor, ESQ for Festus Keyamo Chambers, counsel to ANEEJ and made available to journalists in Benin City yesterday.

The petition also indicated that, “An expeditious determination of this petition is essential to restore the confidence of the citizenry in the security forces.”

According to the petition, Mr. Benson Ogedegbe was the head of the vigilante group that was set up by the residents and traditional rulers of Oghara community to assist the security agencies with intelligence and operations.

“The community was besieged by criminals carrying out criminal activities, ranging from kidnapping, armed robbery and oil bunkering. These criminals operated with relative freedom despite the presence of the Police Force and the Nigerian Army stationed at Koko, Delta State.”

The petition further explained that the vigilante group reduced criminal activities to the barest minimum in the community.

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Alameiyesiegha, Bayelsa Speaker rally support for Dickson

Former Governor of Bayelsa State, Chief Diepreye Alameiyesiegha, and the Speaker of the state House of Assembly, Mr. Kombowei Benson, yesterday began moves to mobilise support for the re-election of Governor Seriake Dickson.

The duo inaugurated a group, the Dickson Support Movement (DSM) as a major platform to champion the governor’s second term ambition ahead of the December 5 governorship election in the state.

Inaugurating the state and local government chapters of the group, led by the speaker, Alamieyeseigha, said the state had witnessed massive transformation under Dickson in the past three years.

He said the era of changing governors at will was over, and called for support for the current administration.

He said: “You should go to all the nooks and crannies of Bayelsa State to sell this good product, Governor Dickson for another term in office.

“We cannot afford to be changing our Governors at will. Other states created the same time with us have only had two governors in the last 16 years. But we have had four state governors. This does not bring continuity.”

The Speaker, who is the Director-General of the DSM, said the projects embarked upon by the Dickson-led government were enough to bring him back to office for another term.

He said: “You don’t have big work other than a responsibility to sell our worthy governor. He has done well. Go out for the lost sheep, bring them into the Dickson Movement. This group is the brainchild of some right-thinking people of the state.

“This movement is not here for any other business other than supporting the re-election of Governor Seriake Dickson.

“The same group that drew down Chief Alamieyeseigha, are the same voices that are singing the songs to bring down our governor, but we will not allow them again because we are wiser now. Chief Alamieyeseigha remains our hero and a great Ijaw leader,” he said.

Also, a former Speaker of the old Rivers State House of Assembly, and Chief of Staff, Government House, Chief Talford Ongolo, urged the people of the state to prepare for the forthcoming election and participate actively in the process to return the governor for another term.

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Timeline: BBM celebrates 10th birthday

The post Timeline: BBM celebrates 10th birthday appeared first on The Nation Nigeria.

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Police tasked on security situation in Festac

THE recent killing of the All Progressives Congress chieftain, Mr. Shalewa Daramola , in Festac, Lagos, and the strangulation of an innocent Nigerian about two weeks ago in Ojo is causing anxiety among the residents and corporate organizations in that area. Mr Kunle Abiona, a chief executive of one of the leading indigenous companies in the area expressed worries over the recent spate of killings and insecurity in the area .

He said the development had truncated the peace and tranquility that reigned in the community before now. He therefore enjoined the new police boss in the community to take the issue of security head on. While commending the last police boss in the area, he noted that the new police boss, Frank Mba, is an experienced policeman who is competent and capable to arrest the spate of insecurity in the area. The chief executive also called on the Inspector General of Police, Solomion Arase to look seriously into the security situation not only in Festac but the entire Amuwo Odofin in general .

He said: “The community is cosmopolitan and that is why its security is imperative . Good security network will not only combat crime but will restore peace and tranquility once enjoyed in Festac and its environs.

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NSC to investigate Keshi’s N1billion suit

The last may not have been heard of Stephen Keshi’s N1billion lawsuit against the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) as the National Sports Commission (NSC) has said it will investigate the matter and make their investigations known.

Keshi, former Super Eagles coach who was sacked earlier in the month, is suing the NFF for N1billion for ‘wrongful dismissal’ and ‘defamation of character’, a development which hasn’t gone unnoticed by the sports supervising body in Nigeria, the NSC.

Speaking on the development, Director of Sports at the NSC, Ademola Are said necessary action will be taken when their investigation is done with.

“When we investigate the issue I am sure necessary action will be taken,” Are told Brila FM.

“We cannot really say anything categorically now until we have the relevant documents and find out what transpired between the two parties,” Are stated further.

He  also added that they have already been told by the NFF that they are not in breach of their contract with Keshi, as Keshi’s camp feels.

“When it (Keshi’s sack) happened, Chris Green (NFF’s legal and disciplinary committee chairman) said they were not in breach of any contractual agreement with Keshi and they have looked through their papers and everything, so I am sure the National Sports Commission will make appropriate  announcements after taking a look into what actually transpired,” Are stressed.

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